Re: What Year & Help please
Fat-Boy,<br />A motor that starts and then quickly dies usually points to a fuel delivery problem. This can be a low speed idle knob out of adjustment, dirty carb (low speed idle circuit), mis-adjusted float level, bad fuel pump. <br /><br />Remove the cover and see if the idle adj. needle shaft is turning when you turn the knob. Sometimes the knob will spin , but the shaft of the needle does not. If the shaft does turn, turn clockwise until it lightly seats (closed), then turn open (counter-clockwise) 1 1/2 turns. Adjust per destructions below.
<br /><br />(Carburetor Adjustment - Single S/S Adjustable Needle Valve)<br /><br />Initial setting is: Slow speed = seat gently, then open 1-1/2 turns. <br /><br />Start engine and set the rpms to where it just stays running. In segments of 1/8 turns, start to turn the S/S needle valve in. Wait a few seconds for the engine to respond. As you turn the valve in, the rpms will increase. Lower the rpms again to where the engine will just stay running.<br /><br />Eventually you'll hit the point where the engine wants to die out or it will spit back (sounds like a mild backfire). At that point, back out the valve 1/4 turn. Within that 1/4 turn, you'll find the smoothest slow speed setting. <br /><br />When you have finished the above adjustment, you will have no reason to move them again unless the carburetor fouls/gums up from sitting, in which case you would be required to remove, clean, and rebuild the carburetor anyway.<br /><br />If the above adjustments does not allow the motor to continue to run, it's time to take a closer look at the carb ( through cleaning etc).
